Here is a letter that was hand written that I had posted on here some time ago which I would like to re-post for you all as I have seen some information is gone off this site. I had gotten this letter off Ebay long ago, and have sent the original to one of the family history members, so it is not in my possession any longer. Here is what it said, and no, I am not connected to this family and cannot answer any questions. Just here is a letter for you. Thanks




R. P. Dow
1832 Berendo St.
Hollywood, Calif

September 24, 1921

Dear Madam:

Your earliest known ancestor was Thomas Dow who came from Europe with wife Phebe Latty and two infant sons, an original grantee of Newbury, Mass 1639. In 1653 he bought a log house and four acres in Haverhill for about $240 and was the first white man to die in Haverhill, as (at) about 39.

2 Stephen Dow b Newbury 1641, served as junior officer in garrison 6 during the great Indian massacre of 1696; married Ann Story of Dover, born England, dau of William of Ipswich and Dover. Stephen lost over half his relatives in this massacre.

3 Stephen Dow m Mary Hutchins, dau of his father’s 2nd wife. He was under his father at garrison 6 and was an Indian fighter many years later.

4 Richard Dow married his 2nd cousin Phoebe Heath, whose grandfather, Joseph Heath, husband of Martha Dow, was killed by Indians. He served with two brothers in the French War, at Crown Point 1756, promoted then to Lieut with Royal commission. He loaned all his money in 1775 – 7 to Salem, N H tp (to) pay for guns and bounties; he served as Capt for a year, drilling and organizing men at Winter Hill, and organized another company 1777 under Col Nathan Hale. Being over 70 he did not take the field in person after 1776. He d 1787.

5 Oliver Dow b Salem July 31, 1736, saddler, moved to Hopkinton; m 1757 Hannah Pattee, but was on a visit to Salem 1775 and fought at Lexington and Bunker Hill; promoted to Lieut July 9, 1776. In 1790 he moved back to Salem. His health poor, the town voted 1804 to exempt him from taxation. His children all grown up, he and his old wife went to them in Waterville, Me, where he d Dec 18, 1824.

NOTE: there is no number 6 here but there is a new paragraph starting

Levi Dow moved from Hopkinton to Boston and in 1833 to Waterville, where he kept an Inn; d Waterville Mch 27, 1849; Universalist; m 1st Jan 19, 1802, Catherine Whipple, descended from Capt John Whipple of Boston 1630. I think she was a Mayflower line. His 2nd wife has a Mayflower line; Elizabeth McClure Horton, dau of Benjamin and Mary (McLane) of Boston. Levi’s children, for information of whom I shall feel more than grateful.

a. Levi Albertus d young
b. Catherine b Feb 21, 1804 untraced
c. Charlotte b Apr 21, 1805; untraced; but no doubt d in infancy
d. Charlotte Augusta b Nov 9, 1806, untraced
e. Charles Austin (see below)
f. William H b July 14, 1810; had 2 dau, Alice E m Capt Churchill, Ada Bradbury d young
g. Elizabeth b Nov 1, 1812; d Jan 30, 1899; m Benjamin Mirick. I do not know her children
h. Thomas Augustas b Jan 17, 1814 Untraced. I wonder much what became of him
i. Mary Marshall m Paul Langdon Chandler; went to Minneapolis
j. Geo Sylvanus Cobb, the banker; his line well known
k. Marshall Adams d ae 2
l. John Randolph b July 18, 1825; d Sept 29, 1864 (if in war I do not know) he m Apr 23, 1850, Margaret A Thayer. Children, if any, unknown to me.
m. Albert Marshall d ae 23

Charles Austin Dow, farmer of Waterville, d Dec 23, 1891 m Dec 13, 1829, Philomela Ann Getchell, dau of Capt Nehimiah Getchell Jr, sea capt.
Children:
a. Levi A (I presume Albertus) date not known to me
b. Nehimiah Getchell, later of Los Angeles
c. --- , a dau, whose name was given to me this very day

Of the children of Levi A Dow I have no knowledge of death or marriage or children of:

Lizzie D b July 4, 1864
Evelyn P b Aug 16, 1868
Josephine M b Jan 6, 1872
Levi R b Apr 13, 1881

In Waterville lives Miss Cora C Dow, teacher, whose great great grandfather also fought on Bunker Hill. I have her line completely; wrote it out a few days ago for Mrs D. Wingfield Dow of Augusta

Charles W Dow, attorney of Waterville, I am told, has moved away.
Leverett O Dow, Vice pres. Miss Prudence Dow. Walter G. Dow, electrician. I do not know their antecedents and for any information however little, I shall feel very grateful.

It goes without saying that I am grateful for any info mation of any Dow anywhere. I have classified about 30,000 of us

If at any time you wish your own line in greater detail, do not hesitate to ask for it. Meanwhile, in the pride of Dow, old and honorable family, I remain.
Fideliter,

Robert Percy Dow, of the Quaker line, from Henry Dow immigrant of 1637

Signed in pencil R P Dow
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gayle Adams
(Elizabeth (Betsy) Wilson from the Ten Wilson Brothers and Robert Ramsey’s ggggranddaughter)